Printable Thanksgiving Trivia — 40 Free Questions

Answer Key

1. 1621. The harvest feast was held at Plymouth Colony in autumn 1621.
2. The Mayflower. It departed England on September 16, 1620 with 102 passengers.
3. Abraham Lincoln. He proclaimed it in October 1863.
4. The Wampanoag. About 90 Wampanoag men joined approximately 50 Pilgrims.
5. Massachusetts. Their settlement was called Plymouth Colony.
6. Tisquantum, known as Squanto. He was a Patuxent man who had lived in England and served as a translator and guide.
7. Massasoit. He maintained a peace alliance with Plymouth Colony for over 40 years.
8. Three days. It was a multi-day harvest feast with games and communal meals.
9. Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1939. Congress made it permanent in 1941.
10. 1924. It was originally called the Macy's Christmas Parade.
11. Pumpkin pie. Over 50 million pumpkin pies are eaten each Thanksgiving.
12. A chicken stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey. It's a Cajun dish popularized by TV commentator John Madden.
13. Minnesota, raising about 40–45 million turkeys per year.
14. Early 1900s, after Marcus Urann began canning cranberries in 1912.
15. Dorcas Reilly at Campbell's Soup Company in 1955.
16. Stuffing (or dressing). It consistently ranks first in surveys, ahead of mashed potatoes.
17. Wisconsin, which produces over 60% of U.S. cranberries.
18. About 88%. Around 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.
19. Pumpkin pie. They lacked butter, wheat flour, and a proper oven for pastry.
20. Corn (maize). They used the Three Sisters method: corn, beans, and squash.
21. A tom (or gobbler).
22. A hen.
23. A poult (or chick).
24. Yes. They can fly up to 55 mph for short distances.
25. The wattle.
26. The snood.
27. Up to 25 mph.
28. Benjamin Franklin.
29. About 5,000–6,000.
30. 49 states (all except Alaska).
31. The Detroit Lions.
32. The Dallas Cowboys.
33. Black Friday.
34. 1989, under President George H.W. Bush.
35. Small Business Saturday, created by American Express in 2010.
36. A Thanksgiving celebration held with friends rather than family, often as a potluck.
37. A road race held on Thanksgiving morning. Turkey Trot races are held in hundreds of U.S. cities.
38. Giving Tuesday, a global day of charitable giving.
39. The Monday after Thanksgiving, when online retailers offer major discounts. The term was coined in 2005.
40. Over 50 million. It is the most-watched Thanksgiving broadcast.